Road To Revolution
World Powers Collide
• Britain + France at war
for control of “New
World”
• 1607-1763 American
Colonies are allowed to
rule themselves
• This policy of ignoring
the colonies was known
as
• Salutary/Benign
Neglect.
French and Indian War
1754-1763
• As Americans push
further west, against
British wishes, they are
attacked by Indians w/
French encouragement
• The British and French
fight a series of wars in
North America
• The last being the
French and Indian war
Albany Plan of Union
• In 1754 Ben Franklin
urged the colonies
to join together
against the Indian
threat
• His plan was known
as the Albany Plan
of Union
British Victory
• The British defeat
the French in 1763
• They now control
North America
• War debt of $130
million.
• The American
colonists will be
asked to help pay
down the debt
Britain Tightens its grip
• With France out of the way the British
end their policy of Salutary Neglect.
• The British now want to re-establish a
policy of Mercantilism.
• Colonies existing for the sole benefit of
the mother country.
• They would now collect taxes on the
thriving American trade.
New Taxes/Acts
• British create taxes
Americans feel are
unfair…???
• Americans don’t vote
for Parliament members
who create taxes… Not
represented
• “No Taxation Without
Representation”
• James Otis of
Massachusetts was the
leading voice for
Americans
American Reactions to British
Taxes
Sons of Liberty
Boston Massacre 1770
5 Americans Die
Gaspee Incident
• 1772 Rhode Island
colonists burn and
loot a British ship
attempting to catch
American
smugglers.
Boston Tea Party 1773
Britain Attempts to end
“Rebellion” in Massachusetts
• After the Boston Tea Party the British:
• Close Boston Harbor
• Eliminated self government in
Massachusetts
• More Quartering of soldiers
First Continental Congress
1774
• Delegates from 12
colonies met in
Philadelphia to discuss
what to do about
Massachusetts
• They decide to:
• Create Militias in each
colony
• Continue to
communicate through
Committees of
Correspondence